So the new trailer for ‘Rogue One’ dropped as we all knew it
would and there is definitely a lot to talk about. With rumours of reshoots and
various different editors being brought in to handle the film (though most of
those rumours have been rebuffed by numerous sources if anyone was worried) it’s
pleasing to have a trailer that is this spectacular, that seems this sure of
what the film itself wants to achieve and such clarity of the vision behind it.
I would have been worried if what we saw was a sprawling
mess of randomly amazing images and even though the trailer features numerous amazing
shots they all seem to serve a purpose of telling a singular story within the ‘Star
Wars’ universe. It establishes tone, character and scale excellently and all
while providing only the thinnest outline of the plot.
But first thing’s first, Darth Vader is in this trailer (either
than or Rick Moranis has decided to make an unexpected return to acting). Just
the back of his head at least and while this doesn’t say much on what exact
role he will be having in ‘Rogue One’ it is an iconic image and sound and the
reveal is utilised very well. To hear that familiar inhale and see the domed
helmet shape for the first time in so many years is a remarkable sight. Maybe
it didn’t have quite as high an impact as I would want it to but to be honest
there are so many amazing things to be found elsewhere in this trailer that I
honestly don’t care. Vader’s presence is a welcome addition (if used correctly)
but they already had my ticket long before that shot.
I admire the fact that the trailer instantly creates an
atmosphere of oppression and subjugation, this era for the ‘Star Wars’ universe
harkens back to the aesthetic of ‘A New Hope’ but somehow the world view seems
even bleaker and that certainly fits the narrative of where the universe is at
this point in the franchise. The Rebels feel like a desperate, rag tag
organisation who are barely scraping by
under the power of the Empire. Unlike other ‘Star Wars’ films the villain is
almost painted as an omnipotent being that can only be delayed rather than
stopped.
We also get some quick character introductions, nothing too
obvious so as to spoil the surprise but merely a rough outline of who these
people are and what role they will be playing in this struggle, as well as a brief
glimpse of their respective personalities. From Donnie Yen’s blind and skilled
warrior who may or may not be a Jedi (it’s kind of hard to tell) to the blunt
and bulky droid K-2SO played by Alan Tudyk.
The main players like Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Ben
Mendleson are also given plenty of screen time to simply reaffirm what we know.
Luna seems to be the Poe Dameron type of role as an experienced Rebel soldier
who acts as a secondary player, Mendelson looks delightfully evil and
flamboyant as Orson Krennic, an Imperial Military Director. Then we have Jyn
Erso and despite bign the main character, the place where her loyalties lie
remains a mystery, with Jones’s performance keeping a sly and protective shroud
around her identity. I’m confident we will of course uncover more within the
actual film, but right now it’s difficult to categorise her, but by no means
does that make it inferior, on the contrary she rightly feels like the most
interesting character there.
Then of course the trailer also does an excellent job of
establishing the tone ‘Rogue One’ will be going for. This truly feels like a
war film, a war film dressed in the clothes of ‘Star Wars’. Once again Gareth
Edwards direction captures a great sense of scale and scope to accompany this
ground level combat and there is a decidedly visceral feel to each action
sequence we have caught a glimpse of so far. But of course there is no lack of
visually stunning shots either, with some simply gorgeous images from the Death
Star eclipsing a planet’s sun to the monstrous sand storm and the lone shuttle
that flies through it. The trailer has a sense of grit and grime, a universe
that feels lived in and, more than any other ‘Star Wars’ film so far, one that
has seen conflict and the damage of it.
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